Conflicting signals over Royal Air Maroc 737 MAX plans

Moroccan national airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) faced uncertainty over its plans for Boeing’s 737 MAX as a senior industry source close to the matter denied that a deal for more jets had been suspended. A source from RAM told Reuters earlier that a deal to take two more of the jets had been “suspended” after 737 MAX was grounded worldwide in the wake of two accidents. RAM had planned to receive the two 737 MAX aircraft in June, the airline source said, adding that two other 737 MAX planes already in its fleet had joined the worldwide grounding. “We are no longer going to receive the two planes as planned,” said the source, who asked not to be identified and did not provide further details. However, a senior industry source close to the matter, also speaking on condition of anonymity, strongly denied the report. Boeing has sold and already delivered two 737 MAX jets directly to RAM, the planemaker’s data shows. It was not immediately clear whether any further jets that the airline may also intend to take were due to be leased. Separately, the source said that RAM is not concerned about its fleet of 737NG planes after inspections that have taken place elsewhere in the world, saying the checks routinely take place on older jets or after a set number of flights. RAM operates 36 of the 737NG planes. Of these, one has required such an inspection and no problems were found.<br/>